STATION NEWS AND THE LOG BOOK - August 6, 2015

Milky Way at Midnight - Cape Schanck, VIC - Rob Wagner ©

STATION NEWS AND THE LOG BOOK

STATION NEWS

USA
Adventist World Radio has just begun a new service to Cuba, which is also audible throughout much of Latin America and the Caribbean. The new 30-minute program, which began August 1st, is broadcast twice daily at 1100 and 2300 UTC on the frequency of 5950 kHz via the transmitter site of WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida. And particularly interesting is the fact that the program originates at AWR studios in Cuba with all locally-produced content -- such as a segment called “Somos Cuba” or “We are Cuba.” Much of the AWR-Cuba programming is intended for young people, but there are features for a wide variety of listener interests. Again, the new service can be heard daily at 1100 and 2300 UTC on 5950 kHz. (via WRMI)

 ROMANIA From July 25, Radio Abisinia started broadcasting in Amharic to East Africa from on Saturdays only. The frequency is 15470 kHz between 1600 and  1757 UTC with 150 kW. The transmitter location is believed to be in Romania.

 JAPAN
Ron Howard at Asilomar State Beach, CA, USA reports that Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata, Japan is now operating on 6020 kHz (ex 5985) at 1337 on Aug 3. QRM from the usual jamming and co-channel VoVietnam. However, prior to this on July 30, Ron noted VOV4, via Buon Me Thuot, capital of Dak Lak Province, in the Central Highlands, at 1406. Minorities language with indigenous singing/music. You can check out his VoV music clip at: https://app.box.com/s/qiuy193rojy5lc4vxet5hwtxflttw5rg

 MYANMAR
Relating to the Japan item above, Ron hears the 25 kW Myanmar Radio - Yangon operating in the clear  around 1330, now in the clear with "almost fair reception" because of the Shiokaze frequency change.

 THAILAND
Some observations on August 4 of the BBC English WS to parts of Asia on three different frequencies provide a good illustration that transmitting antenna beam headings DO matter. At 2200, the World Service begins on three frequencies: 5875 (beaming 0˚), 5890 (beaming 150˚) and 5905 (at 25˚), as taken from the HFCC registrations. All three freqs are close together, all transmitted from the same location at Nakhon Sawan, and all running 250 kW. 5875 was a weak signal, 5890 was at a good level and easily readable, and 5905 was barely audible. So why was 5890 so well heard at Mount Evelyn? Here, I get the benefit of the signal being beamed from the Thailand txer site to Indonesia and PNG. Checking the azimuth indicators from the HFCC list can sometimes shed light on why some signals are stronger than others from the same transmitter site.

 SRI LANKA
Earlier this week, Deutsche Welle conducted test transmissions beamed to East Africa via the Trincomalee transmitter site. The tests were scheduled between August 1 and 3. I only had time to check out two of the frequencies used. 15260 kHz in Swahili at s/on 0300 for 30 min to EAf, good signal on Aug 3. And, 17800 kHz to EAf in English news at 0400 s/on, fair to poor strength with deep fading on Aug 3. Nothing has been heard on these two frequencies since the tests concluded.

 INDIA
This just in from Ron Howard: 
5050, AIR Aizawl, 1208-1235, Aug 4. Playing easy listening music; respectable signal, but mixing with Beibu Bay Radio (China); 1220-1225 segment in English; 1230-1235 with news and stock market news in English, which was  clearly // AIR Shillong (4970); above average reception. Heard semi-regularly recently.

FROM THE LOG BOOK


5930   ROMANIA. RRI - Galbeni. Folk songs in the English service to WEu at 2244, fair signal on Aug 4.

6195   SINGAPORE. BBC - Kranji. At 2300 with English to SEAs/Indonesia, weak signal as this band began to close for the morning (9am here) Aug 4.

7220   IRAN. VOIRI - Sirjan. Indonesian service at 2255, fair signal on Aug 4.

7270   GERMANY. RFE/RL - Lampertheim. The 20-minute service in the Avar language to CEu at 0409, poor signal on Aug 3.

7295   FRANCE. R. Algerienne - Issoudun. Arabic news reports at 0412, fair signal on Aug 3.

7330   ROMANIA. RRI - Galbeni. Booming signal at 0414 with ID in Romanian, then sports report. Beamed to SEu and a fabulous signal on Aug 3.

9265   USA. WINB - Red Lion PA. "I'll Be There" song by "Brother Samson" at 2335. Then a list of Baptist services in different parts of the country. Weak signal but mostly readable on Aug 4. Not an easy station to hear in Mount Evelyn.

9350   USA. WWCR - Nashville TN. Fair signal at 2342 with a great selection of blues tunes in the "Last Radio Playing" show. Good listening!! Aug 4.

9455   AUSTRIA. AWR - Moosbrunn. Turkish program at 0422 till s/off 0428, good level on Aug 5.

9510   GERMANY. Athmeeya Yatra Radio - Nauen. A fair to poor signal at 0005 in the scheduled (presumed) Kurukh language (on Weds & Thurs at this time), beamed to SAs. Can also be heard in Europe via the Twente remote with a slightly better signal but QRM from CRI's Russian co-channel. Aug 5.

9535   CUBA. R. Havana - Bejucal. Weak signal at 0010 with anncts and music, CAm service on Aug 5.

9545   SOLOMON IS. SIBC - Honiara. English anncts and local island pops at 0015, fair signal on Aug 5.

9575   MOROCCO. R. Medi 1 - Nador. French news reports at 0630, then a pop music program from 0645 till 0658 when ID and a shift into Arabic programming, fair level on July 30. Also heard with pop music at 0020 in the Arabic service, fair signal on Aug 5.

9635.79   VIETNAM. VoV - Son Tay. The network 1 national service at 0025 with a very weak signal and mainly talk in Vietnamese. Not normally heard here at this time of day, Aug 5.

11645   VATICAN. R. Tamazuj - SM Galeria. Sudanese Arabic at 0415 with a telephone interview, very good signal on Aug 5.

11645   VATICAN. R. Dabanga - SM Galeria. In Darfuri Arabic with commentaries at 0443, many mentions of Darfur and R. Dabanga. Runs // 13800  via Madagascar, but 11645 kHz was the better frequency here on Aug 5.

11660   IRAN. VOIRI - Zahedan. Arabic to ME at 0450, good signal on Aug 5.

11700   ROMANIA. RRI - Tiganesti. English service to EAs with Radio Newsreel at 2205, good signal on Aug 4.

11730   BELARUS. R. Belarus - Minsk. Heard weakly at 2200 beginning the Russian service with ID and a local pop song. QRM from another unidentified open carrier smack bang on the same frequency, Aug 4.

11820   UNIDENTIFIED. I tuned into a big fat open carrier at 0505 UTC and decided to sit on it for a few minutes while I did other things in the shack. Suddenly at 0512, audio with an Arabic discussion program, followed by a brief Middle Eastern style instrumental music interlude at 0514, then more chatter. At 0518, just as suddenly audio and carrier were gone, and never returned. Test concluded….I guess!! Sounded a bit like Iran's audio quality. Huge signal on Aug 5, and also noted on the Twente remote in Europe.

13600   OMAN. R. Sultanate of Oman - Thumrayt. ID at 0515 then an Arabic pop song. Beaming to EAf, a poor signal here on Aug 3.

13650   D.P.R.K. VoKorea - Kujang. English to SEAs at 0523, poor signal on Aug 3.

13695   FRANCE. RFI - Issoudun. Solid signal in French to CAf at 0527, Aug 3.

13710   IRAN. VOIRI - Kamalabad. Turkish service to ME with muffled audio at 0531, strong signal on Aug 3.

13740   IRAN. VOIRI - Ahwaz. Dari service to CAs at 0535, usually stronger than this! Aug 3.

13765   MADAGASCAR. Vatican R. - Talata Volonondry. Portuguese service to SAf, excellent signal at 0540 on Aug 3.

13800   VATICAN. R. Dabanga - SM Galeria. Sudanese Arabic programming with news at 0542 and the singing ID at 0544,  good signal on Aug 3.

13830   BOTSWANA. VOA - Moepeng Hill. French to Af at 0547, and a lovely signal on Aug 3. This is a weekdays only service.

15490   MADAGASCAR. BBC - Talata Volonondry. Big signal for the 30 min Somali service to EAf, noted at 0424 to s/off 0429, Aug 5.

17740   SAUDI ARABIA & CHINA. At 0605, BSKSA - Riyadh in Arabic and CRI - Xian in Mandarin at equally good signal strength on Aug 3.

17810   JAPAN. R. Japan - Yamata. Japanese to SEAs, good signl on Aug 5.

17895   SAUDI ARABIA. BSKSA - Riyadh. Arabic discussion program at 0432, not particularly strong but clear reception with only light fading, Aug 5.

73 and have a great weekend everyone!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW
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